How to study astrology

Have you ever studied a foreign language? Learning the planets, signs, and houses in astrology is a lot like learning the vocabulary of a foreign language. As with any foreign language, you can’t start with Shakespeare; you have to start with Dick and Jane.

Astrology is a fascinating, complex, serious and incredibly rewarding study. You will not learn it in a week, a month, or even a year. It usually takes at least a few years and a whole lot of studying to get good at reading charts, so the first thing to remember is to be patient with yourself. I have been studying since 1996, and there is still so much to learn.

What’s the best way to study astrology?

The best way to learn is to study your own chart, and the charts of the people in your life. Many charts, especially those of the people closest to you, may not make a lot of sense to you at first, and that’s okay. They will make more sense in time. Just keep reading and keep learning. You’ll learn about aspects and transits, progressions and composite charts. You’ll start comparing your chart to other people’s, learning how the energy works in relationships. Still, don’t stop reviewing the basics: planets, signs and houses. You need a strong understanding of the basics to make sense of any chart.

Make flash cards

I like to use 3” x 5” or 4” x 6” note cards, lined on one side, and blank on the other. On the unlined side, draw the glyph for the planet or sign, or the number of the house. On the lined side, write down keywords for that planet, sign, or house. You can start with the keywords I give you, and add to them as you read more about astrology.

If you don’t have time to make your own, I have some for sale here.

You can use the cards to quiz yourself on the meanings and other basic information about each of the planets and signs. You can also put them together to help with interpreting the chart. For example, with Moon in Taurus, you would get out your Moon card and your Taurus card, and put them together to get an idea what Moon in Taurus means.

Talk shop

Most astrology enthusiasts love to gab about their craft. Find someone to “talk shop” with. Attend a lecture at your local NCGR chapter. If you’re not lucky enough to have an astrology group in your area, join Node-o-Rama or one of the many other groups online where people can converse about astrology at all levels.

Experience it firsthand

Regardless of your level of expertise, you can also study and learn from the planetary patterns swirling around us today. Lance Ferguson, who has been an astrologer since the 1970s, publishes a newsletter called Skywatch, where he reports on these patterns, day by day. Bookmark Lance’s site, and read it every day. This is a wonderful way to learn, since you do so much more than memorize keywords for the planetary energy— you experience it first hand!

Go to school

Look for astrology classes in your area, or ask a local astrologer for tutoring or guidance with your studies.

Your chart is a map. Your heart is the master.

Keep in mind is that the chart represents potential and possibility. Unlike a foreign language, every vocabulary word in astrology represents some fundamental energy of life on Earth. As such, each has a wide range of expression, not a narrow meaning. Mars, for example, symbolizes speed, irritation, inflammation, sharpness, which may affect the body, the mind, the emotions, or the spirit. As many things in your chart do, the energy symbolized by Mars operates simultaneously on many levels.

This Mars energy within you may inspire and motivate you to take constructive action in a mindful way. But maybe you will choose to be tense and angry and take thoughtless, destructive action that brings harm. Mars does not determine the result. It’s the decisions we have made up to now, that we continue making every day. It is in this place of power that knowing astrology is of immense benefit.

Don’t freak yourself out

Don’t read to know; read to observe. “Ooh, when Mars meets Saturn, it feels like this.” “Ooh, this happened, and Neptune was transiting my Venus.” “Ooh, a lot of my friends have Leo rising.” “Ooh, a lot of my boyfriends have had Moon in the 12th house.” If you read to know, you run a good risk of freaking yourself out. “Is he the one?” is not a question the chart can answer. “Where am I in my life right now?” is.

Astrology is not a “crystal ball.”

You can analyze past, present, and future energies and choices in your chart. It describes the types of people and circumstances you will likely encounter. It will not reveal how the pieces are going to fall into place. Life is part fate, and part free will. Astrology is a roadmap, showing the forks in the road and the best path to your destination. The planets do not make decisions for you.

Like Mars, everything in astrology has many possible ways it can be expressed. For some reason, many, many students who are learning astrology will look up a placement in a book, find a negative sounding interpretation, and think, yikes, I must be a terrible person. I know I did. But I learned to think of it this way— difficult things in your chart represent challenge, inner conflict that takes effort to work out. The bad news is, yes, you may exhibit some of these negative characteristics. The good news is, being honest with yourself, becoming aware of your psychological and spiritual patterns is the first and most important step towards overcoming the challenges represented in your chart.

Comments (21)

I'm starting to become very concerned with Pluto. I have been reading about its transformative yet destructive qualities and since it is at 25 degrees Sag and my natal Sun is 27 degrees Gemini they will be in direct opposition in the next year or so. I am also not clear on when I am actually supposed to start feeling the affects. How many orbs/degrees do they have to be within for the opposition to be really felt? I've heard Pluto transits last about 2 years but when does that start? Just before the transit becomes exact or afterwards? What should I be looking out for? My natal sun is in the 8th house. Since Pluto rules the 8th doesn't that have more significance? (DOB 6/19/75)

Hey,
I don’t relly know much about this web site but as I was reading other people’s comments a lot of my question’s were answered. My sun is in Pisces, moon in Scorpio, and ascendant in Libra (3/20/92 7:28pm). After reading the discription of libra I now understand how people see me. I have have always gotten complements and I can admit that I am a natural charmer and now I know where it comes from. Even though I am a Pisces I have always seen myself as a Scorpio. After I found out that my moon was in scorpio I became fascinated with astrology. N*E* ways I want to keep reading but if there are any Pisces, Scorpio, or Libra’s out there I know where you are comming from. Simone’

What is the overall significance of a Natal that has Two Grand Crosses and Two Grand Trines w/one forming a Kite but together the Grand Trines form the Star of David?

I understand how to break down and interpret these components but I am at a loss as to the over all picture of this combination.

I have researched for this information but can only find the information put in a singular way and nothing that explains the overall significance of the greater picture of said components when present together.

My theory is, astrology is difficult enough without trying to glean some overall pattern. Don’t make it harder than it already is.

And if you're counting a grand cross with a conjunction at one point as "two grand crosses," don't. It's one.

People are very complex. Charts reflect that. Otherwise they wouldn't work. More often than not, you can't find a singular big picture statement to describe the essence of a person. So why do you think you can find that in a chart?

It is always refreshing, although I have been studying astrology since 2000, to read texts on HOW to
study astrology. Combined passion and preciseness! This weekend I experienced the transit of Saturn conjunct my natal Pluto, and as the last one rules my sixth house I really have been focusing the last week on how preventing upcoming feelings of work stress. On a deeper level: “is this really the type of work(place)where I am on my best?”
Paul from Hengelo (O), the Netherlands

It is interesting that your sun, moon, and ascendant are the way they are. My sun is scorpio my moon is picses and my ascendant is libra. If you want, I think we should get in touch, I would like to see what kind of effects our inverted moons and suns would have on our persoalities.

Hello,
I have been dabblin in this stuff for awhile now. I just recently looked over my chart that I had made via a website and realized that my rising sign does not sound like me as much as the previous sign before mine. I am a double sagittarious with a cancer rising. I feel that I’m more Gemini rising. How can this be this? Does it have to do with the “new” sign that they re rediscovered? If so I am an ophious or whatever it was. Could you please help me understand why a rising sign is off? Thanks!!

Hi Lauren – It is one of two things: either your birth time is off, or you haven’t learned all there is to learn about your chart and yourself. The 13th sign stuff doesn’t change anything, that was just some sensationalist smoke and mirrors. Astrology is the same as it ever was.

I am wondering if anyone with more knowledge than I could tell me if I have what’s considered a grand cross. My mother thinks so, she’s been studying my chart for years, I have yet to decide. Oct 28, 1988 plantation, fl 3:30am. Thank you!